Trainers, which of these moves is not like the others?

a) Roar
b) Whirlwind
c) Baton Pass

Reshiram landed at the Pokémon League, and all four riders hopped off. The League itself looked like ruins in a desert. Hilbert returned Reshiram to a Poké Ball, and Rosa started to take stock of their Pokémon.

"So, what types did you say there were again?" Rosa asked. Nate sighed.

"What? I just need a reminder!" Rosa said angrily.

"Rosetta, can you hear yourself?" Hilda asked. Rosa raised an eyebrow, before looking down at her body. Her sailor fuku had reverted back to the casual clothes she normally wore.

"Darn it, knew there'd be a catch…" Rosa moaned. She shrugged, and gestured to the Pokémon League.

"So who's coming with me?"

The first opponent was in a room filled to the brim with books. However, an ominous light was casted about with dancing blue flames. The Elite Four member, Shauntal, sat at a desk waiting for them. Hilbert and Hilda elected to stay out of the match. Mostly because they already fought the Elite Four once before.

" 'The room was dark. The only illumination was from seven crystals spread around the centre an equal distance apart, and a faint glow coming from the centre. This faint glow had a fire-like quality.' That's an extract from an upcoming novel of mine. I've always had a propensity for the ethereal, mystical type. Ghost, of course!" she said, sliding the desk aside. Rosa noted the rails that let her do this.

Nate is challenged by Elite Four Shauntal!

Elite Four Shauntal sent out Cophagrigus!

Go! Hydreigon!

Hydreigon took to its first ever friendly match. Cophagrigus generated a Shadow Ball, which Hydreigon easily swallowed with its hand faces. Another crunch, much closer to the Cophagrigus, was the finishing blow. Cophagrigus fell, without a tuft of energy to show for it.

Elite Four Shauntal sent out Drifblim!

Drifblim spread its fins, and rained a Thunderbolt from the sky. It collided straight with Hydreigon, dazing it and shattering its Illusion. Zoroark grinned, and dived from side to side. The agility it lacked as a Hydreigon was back in full force, and Drifblim was cut up in three different directions in as many seconds.

Elite Four Shauntal sent out Golurk!

Golurk took a deliberate step forward, and swung a heavy-handed fist. The blow caught Zoroark on the head, sending it to one side. Golurk gave a guttural moan, shifted a minuscule amount, and gave a second heavy Brick Break. This one was the finishing blow.

Go! Vaporeon!

Vaporeon hummed steadily, and sprayed a jet of Scalding water at the Golurk. Golurk's joints began to seize up, and move about on the clay body. Golurk looked confused as to how exactly he was being attacked, not noticing Vaporeon's Ice Beam attack finishing him off.

Elite Four Shauntal sent out Chandelure!

Chandelure affixed itself to a light fixture, and began spraying Energy Balls like there was no tomorrow. Vaporeon shot a Scald back in the Chandelure's direction, diffusing the Energy Balls, but not much else. Vaporeon looked at the environment, and smiled. He gave a small tug with his head, and jets of water poured from the bookshelves directly onto Chandelure. The Chandelure fell, and was, miraculously, the only wet thing on the carpet.

Nate defeated Elite Four Shauntal!

" 'The water's flow was stemmed, but the damage was done…' …Oh, sorry, I'm not talking about you. You… seemed to do the opposite. How mystical!"

The second room they chose held a brightly lit boxing ring. A whole crowd of people was painted onto the wall surrounding them, and the boxing ring itself was just large enough for Pokémon battling. The main opponent, Marshal, was doing squats on his side of the ring.

"Greetings! I have trained hard and long under the mentorship of Alder. I will fight like cornered rat when not in corner! Kiai!" Short, but sufficient.

Nate is challenged by Elite Four Marshal!

Elite Four Marshal sent out Throh!

Go! Braviary!

Braviary shot into the air, and skydived with great prejudice. Throh had no chance. Marshal sent out Sawk, and Braviary saw this is a chance to go back on the rebound. Sawk let out a tuft of energy, and survived.

"SCREEK!" Braviary let out in panic. Sawk channelled a dark energy into his fists, and punched. Braviary was knocked back. He shook himself, and pierced through Sawk a second time, but the damage had been dealt.

Elite Four Marshal sent out Mienshao!

Mienshao gave a laugh, before Retaliating for Sawk. Braviary was hurriedly put down.

Go! Diandra!

Diandra focused on the battle, her tiara glowing. She predicted the Hi Jump Kick attack, and lightly sidestepped. Mienshao hit the ropes of the boxing ring, and became entangled.

"Little help?" he asked. Diandra gave him a gentle nudge… out of the ring.

"This is not what I meant!" Mienshao panicked, falling out of the ring… and the fight.

Elite Four Marshal sent out Conkeldurr!

Diandra was not foolish enough to stay focused on the Mienshao. She turned lightly on her feet, and leaped into the air. She sent a massive Psychic attack at the starting position for Marshal's team… just as Conkeldurr was sent out. Dazed, Conkeldurr picked up one of his stone slabs, and threw it at Diandra. Diandra stomped on it, knocking it aside. Conkeldurr attempted the same with the other one, and Diandra took it aside more properly. i.e., giving it back to the opponent. In the face.

Nate defeated Elite Four Marshal!

"I have trained for twenty long years. Twenty long years I shall continue to train. Battle smoothly, as I will."

The third room was a dark purple in hue, and was surrounded by equally as intimidatingly purple claws. Standing in the centre, framed by an impressive backlight, was Grimsley.

"The important part of a battle is knowing how your opponent will act. This arena was designed to help with that. Knowing this, do you accept my challenge?" Grimsley asked, with a high amount of intimidation.

Nate is challenged by Elite Four Grimsley!

Elite Four Grimsley sent out Liepard!

Go! Emboar!

Emboar gave a booming chuckle, and swung around with a giant Hammer Arm. The Liepard fell as easily as it had come out.

Elite Four Grimsley sent out Scrafty!

Scrafty chewed on its gum, before spitting it into the air. It split into several pieces, and fell to the floor in the form of giant, sticky boulders. Panicked, Emboar used a Heat Crash on Scrafty, defeating it. Several boulders got caught on both Emboar and Scrafty, defeating the Scrafty, and next to nullifying Emboar.

Elite Four Grimsley sent out Krookodile!

Krookodile jumped into the air, and pounded the ground. A massive Earthquake shot up from the ground, defeating the Emboar.

Go! Zangoose!

Zangoose spread its claws out wide. Krookodile did the same with his own. Zangoose ran at the Krookodile, and began spamming Brick Breaks and Crush Claws. Krookodile blocked the blows with his own Dragon Claws. Zangoose stepped back, and took stock of the situation. Krookodile swung two massive Dragon Claws at Zangoose, and, as he dodged them, he got an idea. Zangoose slashed with both claws, using an X-Scissor attack to defeat the Krookodile.

Elite Four Grimsley sent out Bisharp!

Bisharp extended sharp blades from all along its body, and charged with a Metal Claw. Zangoose X-Scissor-blocked the attack, and Brick Broke Bisharp's back. Bisharp was sent sprawling, and Zangoose's claws retracted.

Nate defeated Elite Four Grimsley!

"Ah, to lose to a Trainer of such prowess. And… I can sense that you have even more power within you. Go forth, and defeat the last member of the Elite Four!"

The final of the rooms was pitch black. A waterfall, seemingly made of light, was the only pathway to the room's centre. In said centre was a beautiful flower. Rosa sniffed, and the flower parted to reveal Caitlin. The hearts on her hair tips twitched.

"I foresaw your arrival. Rosa… you may have seen my affinity for flowers. May you battle be as pleasing as your namesake," she said.

Rosa is challenged by Elite Four Caitlin!

Elite Four Caitlin sent out Musharna!

Go! Volcarona!

Volcarona braced itself, and whipped out a Quiver Dance. Musharna set up a Reflect barrier, to which Volcarona sidestepped around. Volcarona let out a high pitched Bug Buzz, which sent Musharna flying backwards into the Reflect barrier.

Elite Four Caitlin sent out Sigilyph!

Sigilyph turned onto its side, and used an Air Slash. The beam shot straight through Volcarona, piercing a petal. Volcarona jumped up and down angrily, and wailed another high-pitched Bug Buzz. Sigilyph used Air Slash again, haplessly aiming for the already shattered petals. Volcarona slammed his remaining petals together, and unleashed a mighty Hurricane. The blow managed to hit, and sent Sigilyph's wings through a twister.

Elite Four Caitlin sent out Reuniclus!

Reuniclus used a Psychic attack, and knocked Volcarona to one side. Volcarona shot back towards Rosa's Poké Ball unexpectedly, replacing itself with Lilligant. Rosa nervously twitched.

"What happened?" she asked Lilligant.

"Volcarona tried to use a move his species can't learn," Lilligant explained.

"Did it work?" Rosa asked. Lilligant used a Petal Dance, shooting a stream of petals powerful enough to defeat the Reuniclus.

"Yeah, it worked."

Elite Four Caitlin sent out Gothitelle!

Gothitelle used a Calm Mind, trying to calm itself from what it had witnessed. Lilligant gave a tut-tutting sound, and spread a Sleep Powder to lull Gothitelle into a relaxing nap. Lilligant spun around, boosting the Quiver Dance even more. She finished with another Petal Dance, this one hitting harder than the first. Lacking Reuniclus' pure bulk, Gothitelle was guaranteed failure.

Rosa defeated Elite Four Caitlin!

"Beautiful, refined and elegant… yes, these are all words that describe you, Rosa. You have beaten the Elite Four… but there remains the Champion. Someone you know. I wish you luck… Rosalina," Caitlin said, winking. Something she said was obviously intended as a hint.

The correct answer is c) Baton Pass. It's switching out effect targets the user, not the opponent. I guess you could make a statement for Whirlwind, but when did you ever pay attention to status move types?

Next time, on Revenge Is A Dish Best Served Ice-Cold, a Champion will be fought. And Hydreigon will see use.